Self-Catering Holidays in Atlantic Aquitaine, South West France - Villas, Cottages & Apartments

Call 0870 6092845 or email info@alternative-aquitaine.co.uk for information & booking

Holiday Villas, Cottages & Apartments in Aquitaine, South West France

071 La Grivette, Duras

Three reasons to choose La Grivette:
• Luxuriously renovated XVII century farmhouse
• Superb swimming pool, grounds and outstanding country views
• Guest services including wine tours and meals available

la Grivette in the evening summer sun : click photo to enlarge it

Summary :

Nestled among plum orchards, overlooking the hills of the Sainte Colombe Valley, La Grivette offers beauty, privacy and tranquility.

This once abandoned 300 year old farmhouse took 8 years to restore by it's American owners and a team of artisans. You can be assured therefore, that this has been a thoughtful and meticulous renovation.

La Grivette offers guests a perfect venue to enjoy a stylish and relaxing holiday in the countryside of south west France. And to help you make the most of your stay, Paulette, the local house manager, will be delighted to organise vineyard tours (she used to produce wine locally), visits to markets or cookery classes, for example.

Find out more about la Grivette:
» Key Facts
»
Photo Gallery
» Location

» Accommodation Details
» Local Guide


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la Joliette

The beautiful sejour : click photo to enlarge it Swimming pool and views of the Sainte Colombe valley : click photo to enlarge it Fully-equipped kitchen : click photo to enlarge it
 Key Facts :

Nearest town :
Duras & Monsegur both approx. 5 and 7 kms
Type of location :
Rural tranquility with excellent country views
No. of bedrooms :
3, 4 or 5 : 2x doubles; 1x twin (can be converted to double bed); 2x mezzanines - one with twin beds & one with double & single bed
Sleeping capacity :
Can sleep 11 but more comfortable for 6-8
No. of bathrooms :
3: Family shower room downstairs plus two en-suites (one with bath tub). 3x WCs in total, two of which are en-suite. There is also an outdoor shower
Style of property :
Exceptional farmhouse renovated over a period of many years by a team of artesans
Quality guide :
HIGHER QUALITY - what does this mean?
Prices :
Price Band for this property
» See Price Bands
» Check availability & prices for this property GO
Notes:
» Prices include:
• Bed linen and towels - changed every Saturday
• Electricity and water
• 5hrs housekeeping on a Saturday
• Maintenance of the grounds and swimming pool
» Extras:
• Heating €75 pw in October & November and €100 pw December-March. Payable locally in cash.
» Optional extras can sometimes be arranged in advance with the local housekeeper:
• Maid services
• Cook
• Babysitting
• Vineyard tours
» Security deposit EUR 400 (EUR 600 if you bring pets) or sterling equivalent is held on credit card by Alternative Aquitaine as agent on the owners’ behalf. 
» Read important information about security deposits and insurance
Linen Arrangements :
Bathroom towels, pool towels and bed linen are provided with the rental. Beds are made on arrival. A change of linen is provided mid-stay for 2+ week bookings
Cleaning Arrangements :
The house is cleaned each Saturday.
» Read important information about
cleaning
Arrival & Departure :
Arrive between 4-6 pm and depart by 10am. Changeover day is Saturday in the high season
» Read important information about
arrivals & departures
Nearest beach :
Arcachon or Biscarrosse - 2 hours
Nearest boulangerie :
5 kms (Ste Ferme or Duras or Monsegur). The best bakery around is the Taillecavat baker under the arches at Monsegur . Restaurant recommendations will be provided in your guest pack
Nearest airport :
Bergerac 40 mins; Bordeaux 1 hr 30 mins; Toulouse 2 hrs
Nearest ferry port :
St Malo 7 hours
Swimming pool :
8x4.5m  max depth 1.6m. Surrounded by fence with locking gate. Roman steps access. Saltwater filtration
Facilities & Equipment :
Pool table, bikes (2x adult size, 2x medium size, 1x child's), BBQ, badminton, board games, pool toys, c.100 English-language movies, DVD player, VCR, Satellite TV, CD player, selection of books, films and music. Washing machine, dishwasher, microwave. See Guest Services available also
Suitability for children :
Large grounds; protected pool; no passing traffic. Childrens' toys, games & bicycles in the house. Cot, cot linen &high chair for infants
Suitability for infants :
For infants: cot, cot linen, high chair, changing pads, bed rails, stroller, stairgate, toys.
Pool protected according to new regulations
Things to see & do :
Visit Bastide market towns such as Eymet, Monsegur, Ste-Foy-la-Grande visit châteaux and vineyards in the Pays de Duras Sightseeing in the Dordogne & Lot valleys Golf at les Vigiers kayaking, tennis, fishing & horse-riding the house manager arranges wine tours, cookery classes, etc
House 'rules' :
Pets considered. Smoking not permitted inside the property
Location : Map Ref D3

la Grivette lies in the rural and highly tranquil borders of the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne départements. This region - known as the Pays de Duras - is pretty much unchanged from a 100 years ago. The country life is a simple and healthy one, aided by the fresh produce purchased from the daily markets, and the excellent local reds.

The manoir occupies a rural position, but is only a short walk to the tiny village of Sainte Colombe - little more than a few houses and the old Roman church. Monsegur and Duras are the closest settlements, where you will find a selection of shops, restaurants, supermarkets and open air markets.

Bergerac is the closest airport - approximately 45 minutes' drive. Bordeaux and Toulouse are the best alternatives.


Accommodation :

After 8 years of renovation, you should expect a high standard of accommodation. You will not be disappointed.

Full use has been made of the farmhouse's original features and these are not compromised by the addition of modern conveniences which the discerning guest will require. Also, the property is incredibly spacious with over 400m2 of living space.

The ground floor comprises salon with a striking double-height ceiling, exposed timber beams and imposing stone fireplaces. The lounge is 60m2 in size and its antiquity is complemented by the Turkish rugs and antique armoire. Facilities include satellite TV, vcr and cd stereo system.

A separate dining room has a magnificent heavy oak table seating up to 8 persons. Once the former barn, the original cow mangers are still present - completely restored, of course!

The kitchen is a playground for cooks - there is ample space and all manner of pots, pans and utensils. The wood-carved units, granite work surfaces and stainless steel appliances add to the feeling of luxury. Appliances include microwave, fridge-freezer, separate drinks fridge, 5-burner gas hob & oven, toaster, cofee maker, dishwasher, washing machine/dryer.

Also on the ground floor is a shower room, basin and wc. The American/Argentinian owners of la Grivette have a saying: "Love France, not the salle de bains". When it comes to bathrooms, the inspiration has come from outside of France, hence the clean and white suites with solid brass English fittings, huge shower heads and big bathtubs.

There is potential for five bedrooms including the two mezzanines :

• Bedroom 1: ground floor double bedroom with double-height ceiling. Antique armoires and Turkish kilims. Stone sink & outdoor shower on its private pergola

• Bedroom 2:
Queen-size bed and en-suite bathroom (large bathtub with overhead shower plus basin & wc), beamed ceiling and wood floors. Antique armoire and dresser. Rooftop view over  the front garden and orchards.

• Bedroom 3:
twin beds, wood floor, beamed ceiling and stone walls. Beds can be attached to make a double. Antique armoire and dresser. Views across fields to the village church. Private shower room (shower, basin & wc).

• Loft Bedroom:
by closing heavy velvet curtains suspended from the beams, this room, once the hay-loft of   the farm, is a bedroom for up to 3 persons - it has a single bed and a double bed. There isalso an   armoire and there's a ceiling fan for hot summer nights. Views over the front garden.

• Mezzanine
. This is a quaint twin bedded room at the top of the antique staircase and overlooking the salon.   Curtains are suspended from the beams to provide privacy for twin beds with a large Turkish kilim on  wood floors. It is adjacent to the twin bedroom/bathroom suite, and so ideal for parents with small children

Outside are grounds full of plum orchards, overlooking the Sainte Colombe valley. The fine views and peacefulness are a lasting memory of holidays at la Grivette. Guests are welcome to pick figs, pears and plums from the trees. There is a BBQ for outdoor cooking and an outdoor dining table for 10..

The swimming pool is fenced off and has self-closing gate with padlock. The dimensions are 8x4m with a maximum depth of 1.6m with Roman steps at the shallow end. The pool uses a salt filtration system.

There are bicycles available for guests' use. Local caretakers will occasionally drop by to tend to the lawn and pool, etc.

Underfloor heating makes winter lets possible whilst ensuring the house is cool throughout the summer. In fact, with log fires burning at either end of the salon, this is a perfect Christmas or Winter let.

 
Services :
To help you enjoy your stay, La Grivette offers supplementary services for guests, paid directly to the person(s) engaged. The property manager - Paulette - will run a tab for you so that you may pay at the end of your stay. Please order services in advance or with Paulette when you arrive.

A connisseur of the south west of France, Paulette is a former Bordeaux wine producer and a trained chef. She and her daughter Nathalie have cared for La Grivette for many years.

Guest services include:

Private Meals
Regional specialities, French country meals and south west France gastronomies - truly delicious.

Cooking Classes

Learn how to shop at the local markets and concoct your own dishes with foie gras, duck and local delicacies.

Groceries and Supplies
Stock the house before you arrive (send a list 2 weeks in advance). The cost is EUR 30 plus the cost of the items purchased.

Housekeeping and Laundry
The cost is EUR 12/hr.

Child Care
Qualified child minder available to watch children aged 3 and over. The cost is EUR 12/hr.

Local Guide:

OVERVIEW

This area of France is very rural and seems untouched by time. This is ideal territory for exploring ancient towns, vineyards and châteaux without the tourists and traffic of the ever-popular Dordogne.

NEARBY VILLAGES
Recommended towns to visit are Bergerac, Ste-Foye-la-Grande. Eymet, Miramont, Duras & Monsegur. Duras is a pretty town perched high on an escarpment above the valley of the River Dropt. Here there are local shops, bars and restaurants plus a lively market every Monday. In the summer, the château holds music concerts. St Ferme (5 kms) has a butcher, baker and renowned abbey. At the same distance, Duras has many shops, restaurants, tea room plus a famous jazz festival every summer. Les 24 heures de Swing is 24 hours of non-stop jazz by perfomers from across the world. It happens in early July and is quite a show!

MARKETS & SHOPS
For the best of local produce, shop at traditional open-air markets. These revolve between different villages on different mornings and typically last from 8am to midday.
> Monday - Duras
> Wednesday - Pellegrue, Allemans and Bergerac
> Thursday - Eymet
> Friday - Monsegur
> Saturday - Ste. Foy la Grande and La Reole

The nearby towns of Duras and Monsegur (5 min drive) offer a selection of supermarkets, butchers, bakers, pharmacies, cafes, beauty salons and restaurants. Shops are generally open until midday and then again from 2pm to 6.30pm. Most shops and businesses are closed on Sundays although supermarkets are open until midday.

WINE-TASTING
Naturally there are plenty of wine-tasting opportunities and if you are interested in undertaking a private visit to some of Bordeaux’s finest châteaux, this can be arranged for you by a local contact of ours. Whether it’s St. Emilion, Sauternes, Médoc or Margaux, this could be your chance to sample a selection of grand cru wines. Festivals for wine, food and music occur in the region throughout the year.

ACTIVITIES
There are golf courses in the area including Chateau des Vigiers, recognised as one of the country’s top courses.

For cyclists there are numerous tracks which enable you to safely see the countryside. One of the best is a disused railway line running between Sauveterre-de-Guyenne and Bordeaux. At a distance of 64kms each way, this is not for the beginner although the route is mostly flat. There is a half-way house for a good lunch and a glass of wine to help you along your way.

Other nearby activities include horse-riding, tennis (both Monsegur) and fishing. For the really adventurous, there is an airstrip near Marmande for private flying. To unwind, try the spa treatments and facials at Institut Chris Beaute in Monsegur.

Within a few minutes drive from the house is Lac de St. Sernin which offers safe bathing for children plus boating, wind-surfing, horse-riding, fishing and walks in the wood.

DAYS OUT

For day-trips into the Dordogne valley you can either drive east beyond Ste-Foy-la-Grande and Bergerac.

Beach lovers should head to Arcachon, Cap Ferret or Lacanau. These resorts are approximately 90 minutes driving distance. Arcachon has numerous attractions including the magnificent Dune du Pyla – Europe’s highest sand dune – and a stroll around the Winter Town which is home to a range of eclectic villas.

The city of Bordeaux is less than an hour away and is a good option for a day-trip, whether it’s boutique shopping, sight-seeing or culture. Walking around the 18th century old town centre (Quartier St. Pierre), you can begin to imagine the city’s commercial and maritime past.


For further information try the links below. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for the content of third party sites.

Pays de Duras Tourism Guide
Lot-et-Garonne Tourism Guide
Bordeaux Tourism Guide
Gironde Tourism Guide
Bordeaux Wine Guide
UK Tourist Centre for France

Map Ref D3 | Summary | Key Facts | Photos | Location | Accommodation | Availability & Prices | How to Book | Guide
Call 0870 6092845 or email info@alternative-aquitaine.co.uk for information & booking
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